What feature do honey bees have that aids in the collection and transport of pollen?

Honey bees possess pollen baskets, also known as corbiculae, which are specialized structures located on their hind legs. These baskets are shaped like scoops and are covered in long hairs that help collect and secure pollen grains. When bees visit flowers, they gather pollen on their bodies and then use their legs to pack it into these baskets for transport back to the hive.

This adaptation is particularly important because pollen is a key source of protein for the bee colony, necessary for feeding larvae and maintaining the health of the hive. The efficient mechanism of pollen transportation afforded by these baskets ensures that bees can collect significant amounts of pollen in a single foraging trip, ultimately benefiting the colony’s growth and productivity.

The other options do not serve the same function: suction mouths are not a characteristic of bees; honey glands are involved in nectar processing and storage, not pollen collection; and while fuzzy bodies indeed help in collecting pollen, they do not allow for transport like the specialized structure of pollen baskets does.